Toy car with auxiliary drive wheels

ABSTRACT

A motor driven toy vehicle in which the driving wheels are mounted on a retractable under-carriage so that the toy can also be used as a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;free-wheeling&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; model. The motor is arranged to be switched on simultaneously with the lowering of the undercarriage into its operative position.

United States Patent [191 Tong - 1 TOY CAR WITH AUXILIARY DRIVE WHEELS v I [75] Inventor: Duncan Tong, Hong Kong [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 18, 1975 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,770,074 11/1956 Jones et a1. 46/244 R 3,517,458 6/1970 Sato 46/211 Primary ExaminerLouis G Mancene Assistant ExaminerRobert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or Firm-I-Iyman Hurvitz [57] ABSTRACT Feb. 17, Great A motor driven toy in the driving wheels are mounted on a retractable under-carriage so [52] US. Cl. 46/244 R, 46/211 that the toy can also be used as afree whee]ing" [5 "It. CI- m deL The motor is arranged to be witched on imu]- Field of Search 46/211, 244 R, 243 MV taneously with the lowering of the undercarriage into its operative position. 4

15 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures P fi /5 i9 '4 3032 f 1 34 1. C 1

22 Up- 11 0 35 O 26 55' 55 PATENTED m I 8 SHEEI 1 OF 5 SHEET 2 BF 5 PATENTED MAR] 8 I975 PATENTED 1 81975 SHEET 3 0F 5 PATENTED NARI 81975 sum u or 5 1 TOY CAR WITH AUXILIARY DRIVE WHEELS This invention relates to motor-driven models. Such models may for example have battery operated electric motors and the invention is particularly applicable to toy cars which are battery-powered.

A motor-driven toy vehicle according to the invention has an auxiliary driving wheel or set of wheels mounted on a retractable undercarriage and a switch which is so arranged that operation of the switch member from an on to an off position acts to retract the undercarriage.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the vehicle is a car which is provided with a mystery drive which enables it to circumvent obstacles placed in its path. This drive comprises an undercarriage which is mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane and also for movement in an approximately vertical direction. The drive from the motor to the wheels in this embodiment, is such that it tends to cause the undercarriage to rotate when the vehicle is not in contact with the ground, as well as causing the wheels to rotate. The frictional force on the wheels is sufficient to ensure that when the vehicle is placed on the ground, the undercarriage is substantially prevented from rotating, so that the vehicle moves in a reasonably straight line. When the vehicle encounters an obstruction and cannot move forward the driving wheels are prevented from rotating and this causes the undercarriage to rotate instead, so that the vehicle changes direction.

The undercarriage is preferably in the form of a plate, carrying the motor and wheels which is arranged to pivot about a horizontal axis. In one embodiment of the invention the plate is resiliently biassed into the position in which the wheels are engaged with the ground and a camming device connected to the switch member urges it into an upper position in which it cannot engage with the ground when the switch is moved to the off position. In an alternative embodiment the undercarriage is resiliently biassed out of engagement with the ground and a camming device connected to the switch member urges the undercarriage into a lower position for engagement with the ground when the switch is moved to the on position.

In the case of a model driven by an electric motor, the electrical circuit of the motor may be completed by a contact formed by or on part of the movable undercarriage which engages with a fixed contact on the chassis of the vehicle. 7

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the mechanism of a toy car embodying one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism of FIG. 1 with the drive engaged;

FIG. 3 is a section on the line A A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial underneath plan view of the car of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a similar view to that of FIG. 2 but with the drive disengaged;

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to that of FIG. 5 of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the mechanism of FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a section on the line A A of FIG. 8; and,

FIG. 10 is a partial underneath plan view of the alternative embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle includes a chassis in theform of an underpan 2 which carries two pairs of freely rotatable non-steering wheels 4 and 6. The front end 8 of the underpan carries a rectangular mounting plate 10 which is pivoted at 12 so that it can rotate upwardly away from the underpan 2. The plate 10 is urged away from the underpan by means of a spring 14, one end 16 of which is held in an abutment l8 fixed to the side of a battery compartment 20 and the central portion of which is wrapped around the pivot 12. The other end 22 engages under the end of the plate 10. The upward movement of the plate is limited by a rotatable camming device 24 which engages with the plate and which is attached to a switch member 26 on the underside-of the vehicle.

The plate 10 carries a motor 28 the shaft of which carries a pinion 30, which is engaged with a large crown wheel 32 mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane in a housing 34 at the front end of the mounting plate 10. The shaft 34 of the crown wheel transmits the drive to auxiliary wheels 35 by means of an arrangement which enables the car to circumvent obstacles and which includes a rotatable housing 36. In the drawings this housing is shown in a position from the straightahead position so as to illustrate how the drive can be transmitted in various rotational positions.

FIG. 3 shows in solid lines, the positions of some of the parts of the mechanism when the drive is in the working position and, dotted, the positions of the parts in their retracted state. In the solid line position the cam holds the plate 10 in engagement with the chassis of the vehicle. In this position the auxiliary drive wheels 35 are engaged with the ground and the effect of this is to lift the front of the vehicle, and the wheels 4 out of engagement with the ground. At the same time the electrical circuit to the motor is completed through the plate 10 by its contact with a resilient metal leaf 38 connected to one terminal of the battery compartment which is positioned beneath one edge of the plate.

FIG. 4 shows the relative positions of the switch member 26 and the auxiliary wheels 35, whose mounting 36 may rotate as shown by the arrow B, and FIG. 5 shows a view of the position of the drive mechanism when disengaged, which otherwise corresponds to the view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the plate 40 carrying the motor 42 and undercarriage housing 44 is urged into engagement with the chassis 46 by the spring 48, the cam 50 of switch device 52 being arranged to hold the plate sway from the chassis when the switch is in the off position. The circuit to the motor is completed in the same way as in the first embodiment, i.e., by way of a contact strip 54 (FIG. 7) underlying the edge of the plate 40, so that when the switch is in the on position the plate 40 contacts the strip 54. The layout of the components is otherwise identical to that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 5. FIG. 8, which corresponds to the viewof FIG. 1, shows the mechanism in the driving position in which the wheels 56 are brought into contact with the ground, the freely rotating front wheels 58 of the vehicle thus being raised slightly out of contact with the ground. FIGS. 9 and 10 show views of the second embodiment which correspond to the views of the first embodiment in FIGS. 3 and 4.

An advantage of the retractable undercarriage is that the vehicle can be used in a free-wheeling manner when the motor is switched off, without damaging the drive or the motor.

I claim:

1. A battery operated toy vehicle comprising:

a body;

at least three wheels freely rotatably mounted on the body;

a retractable undercarriage secured to said body and selectively movable between an operative and an inoperative position;

at least one driving wheel mounted on the undercarriage for movement therewith,

a motor mounted in the body and drivingly coupled to said at least one driving wheel;

a switch for connecting said motor to said battery;

and 1 means moving said undercarriage to its operative position and concurrently closing said switch and to its inoperative position and concurrently opening said switch.

2. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a hinge connection between the undercarriage and said body;

biassing means normally urging at least one driving wheel downwardly into engagement with the ground;

and means responsive to said switch for retaining said undercarriage against downward movement when said switch is open.

3. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a hinge connection between the undercarriage and the vehicle;

biassing means normally urging said at least one driving wheel out of engagement with the ground;

and means responsive to said switch for retaining said undercarriage against upward movement when the switch is closed.

4. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said last means includes:

a cam coupled to said switch and arranged to cooperate with said undercarriage to retain said undercarriage against downward movement when the switch is open.

5. A toy vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said last means includes:

a cam coupled to said switch and arranged to cooperate with said undercarriage to retain said undercarriage against upward movement when said switch is closed.

6. A toy vehicle according to claim 1, in which said motor is mounted on said undercarriage.

7. A toy vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said switch comprises:

a switch contact on said body of said vehicle, said contacts being so arranged that said switch is closed only in response to movement of said undercarriage into said operative position.

8. A battery driven model vehicle, comprising:

a body;

a set of wheels secured to said body, said wheels being free to rotate;

power means including an electric motor and a battery supported by said body;

at least one driving wheel supported by said body;

means coupling said electric motor mechanically in driving relation to said at least one driving wheel;

positioning means for selectively positioning said at least one driving wheel into a first position in which said at least one driving wheel can be ground engaging and into a second position in which said at least one driving wheel cannot be ground engaging;

a switch connected between said electric motor and said battery; and

means responsive to said positioning means only while said positioning means is in said first position for closing said switch and to said positioning means only while said positioning means is in said second position for opening said switch.

9. A vehicle as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a hinge connecting said positioning means and said body,

said positioning means including biassing means normally urging said positioning means into said first position; and

means to retain said positioning means in said first position when said positioning means is urged into said first position.

10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a hinge connecting said positioning means and said body,

said positioning means including biassing means normally urging said positioning means to said second position, and means to retain said positioning means in said second position.

cammmg means; manually operable means having at least two positions for controlling said camming means, said manually operable means in one of said positions controlling said camming to oppose. said biassing means and in another of said positions controlling said camming means to enable said biassing means to move said positioning means into said first position. 12. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 10, further including:

camming means; manually operable means having at least two positions for controlling said camming means, said manually operable means in one of said positions controlling said camming means to oppose said biassing means and in the other of said positions controlling said camming means to allow said biassing means to'move said positioning means into said second position. 13. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 11, in which is provided: 7

means responsive to said manually operated means when operated from said other position to said one position for actuating at least one said camming means to move said at least one driving wheel into said second position. 14. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 12, in which is 65 provided:

means responsive to said manually operated means when operated from said other position to said one position for controlling said camming means to 11. A vehicle as claimed in claim 9, further including? 6 move said at least one driving wheel into said first contact on said body, said contactsbeing so rela- Posmontively positioned as to close only when said driving.

15. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 8, in which said switch comprises:

a contact on said positioning means and a mating 5 means is in said first position. 

1. A battery operated toy vehicle comprising: a body; at least three wheels freely rotatably mounted on the body; a retractable undercarriage secured to said body and selectively movable between an operative and an iNoperative position; at least one driving wheel mounted on the undercarriage for movement therewith, a motor mounted in the body and drivingly coupled to said at least one driving wheel; a switch for connecting said motor to said battery; and means moving said undercarriage to its operative position and concurrently closing said switch and to its inoperative position and concurrently opening said switch.
 2. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a hinge connection between the undercarriage and said body; biassing means normally urging at least one driving wheel downwardly into engagement with the ground; and means responsive to said switch for retaining said undercarriage against downward movement when said switch is open.
 3. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a hinge connection between the undercarriage and the vehicle; biassing means normally urging said at least one driving wheel out of engagement with the ground; and means responsive to said switch for retaining said undercarriage against upward movement when the switch is closed.
 4. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said last means includes: a cam coupled to said switch and arranged to co-operate with said undercarriage to retain said undercarriage against downward movement when the switch is open.
 5. A toy vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said last means includes: a cam coupled to said switch and arranged to co-operate with said undercarriage to retain said undercarriage against upward movement when said switch is closed.
 6. A toy vehicle according to claim 1, in which said motor is mounted on said undercarriage.
 7. A toy vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said switch comprises: a switch contact on said body of said vehicle, said contacts being so arranged that said switch is closed only in response to movement of said undercarriage into said operative position.
 8. A battery driven model vehicle, comprising: a body; a set of wheels secured to said body, said wheels being free to rotate; power means including an electric motor and a battery supported by said body; at least one driving wheel supported by said body; means coupling said electric motor mechanically in driving relation to said at least one driving wheel; positioning means for selectively positioning said at least one driving wheel into a first position in which said at least one driving wheel can be ground engaging and into a second position in which said at least one driving wheel cannot be ground engaging; a switch connected between said electric motor and said battery; and means responsive to said positioning means only while said positioning means is in said first position for closing said switch and to said positioning means only while said positioning means is in said second position for opening said switch.
 9. A vehicle as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: a hinge connecting said positioning means and said body, said positioning means including biassing means normally urging said positioning means into said first position; and means to retain said positioning means in said first position when said positioning means is urged into said first position.
 10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: a hinge connecting said positioning means and said body, said positioning means including biassing means normally urging said positioning means to said second position, and means to retain said positioning means in said second position.
 11. A vehicle as claimed in claim 9, further including: camming means; manually operable means having at least two positions for controlling said camming means, said manually operable means in one of said positions controlling said camming to oppose said biassing means and in another of said positions controlling said camming means to enable said biassing means to move said positioniNg means into said first position.
 12. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 10, further including: camming means; manually operable means having at least two positions for controlling said camming means, said manually operable means in one of said positions controlling said camming means to oppose said biassing means and in the other of said positions controlling said camming means to allow said biassing means to move said positioning means into said second position.
 13. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 11, in which is provided: means responsive to said manually operated means when operated from said other position to said one position for actuating at least one said camming means to move said at least one driving wheel into said second position.
 14. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 12, in which is provided: means responsive to said manually operated means when operated from said other position to said one position for controlling said camming means to move said at least one driving wheel into said first position.
 15. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 8, in which said switch comprises: a contact on said positioning means and a mating contact on said body, said contacts being so relatively positioned as to close only when said driving means is in said first position. 